18 August 2009

I saw the new doctor this morning. He was great. His staff was great. Everyone was nice and helpful and I feel like I have so much more information about everything.

I have a date for surgery. If you'd like to know the date, email Jamie (or me if you don't have her email.) They will remove my right thyroid and its five nodules. They probably will not be able to tell if it is cancerous until the nodules are fully dissected (which I'll find out about a week after the surgery). If they do find out for sure during the surgery that it is cancer they will also remove the left thyroid. If they find out it's cancer after the surgery they will for sure go in and remove the left side in another surgery.

Right now I have the option of deciding if they should remove the entire thyroid in one surgery or if they should just remove the right side now.

Right side only: I may or may not be able to make enough thyroid with only the left side. So I may have to be on thyroid medication and I may not. I will have to get the left side checked yearly and I will probably eventually have to have it removed someday. Maybe 5 years, maybe 15, but it's likely it will also have to be removed eventually.

Total thyroid removal - Will for sure have to take thyroid medication for the rest of my life. The results could come back not cancer after they've removed the entire thing.

I'm not sure what to do yet. I would love it if you could specify your prayers for me to know what is the right decision. We have all been doing well around here emotionally, and I know all your prayers and thoughts are helping us with that.

September 6th we will be fasting that everything will go well with the surgery and that I'll be able to make the right decisions. I'd love it if you'd fast for me that day or be sending good vibes my way.

p.s. I'd love to be able to get back to each of you with thank yous and answers. But unfortulately I don't have the time. I've had so many well wishes and thoughts and comments and visits that I can hardly keep up with my everyday life. Keep those all coming (I really love all the love), but just know that I may not be able to get back to you right away. If you're in my family my sister Jamie is fielding questions for me. If you're in my neighborhood my friend Jane is fielding questions for me. Thank you.

7 comments:

I am not family or a friend, just an online fellow friend from Spokane but I am hoping the best and praying for you too...Life is good, the Lord is good! You will have peace you really will and so will your friends and family...

We are praying for you out here in Michigan. I hope it goes well whatever you choose.

P.S. As an over-opinionated person I would say try the right side first and hope for the best. But wow, I am also a moron who always pipes up when it is seriously not needed. Please don't let my take on it sway you in any way. Love you!

Thanks for updating your faithful readers! You sound very calm and I'm so glad about that. You're in all our prayers, although sometimes my little girls say "We're thankful for Leigh" instead of a "please bless," but I think it probably counts. I'm definitely thankful for you anyway :)

Well I just caught up on all of this and I'm so sorry to hear this news but grateful to know that you feel optimistic. I hope it's not inappropriate to say this, but I have been feeling so thankful lately for people who receive their trials with hope. It's inspiring, and it's refreshing. Thank you for being one of those people.

Just wanted to tell you that we are praying for you and are here if anything is needed. We love you and we hope all turns out well. We can take the kids when you need us to and I will bring some freeser meals as soon as a get through this first week of school. Love ya and stay strong (I know you are).

funnies from the guys

Jack: Mom - would you be really mad if someone put paint on your house? Charlie: or ketchup?I had asked Jack several times to do something and he kept not doing it. I was frustrated and started yelling at him. He yelled back at me, "I THOUGHT CHURCH PEOPLE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE NICE!"
Jack: Why do I have to take piano?
me: Because you have musical talents and you need to develop them.
Sam: yeah, and you're also talented at popping.
Charlie: yeah, and locking.The other day while in the car Dan was calling everyone "Cookie-Head Jenkins" (if you know what movie this is from you are a long lost sibling of Dan's). The kids thought it was hilarious and were getting giggly. Sam - sitting in the way back - says (laughing), "it just keeps getting funnier and funnier every time you say it!"

The other day after my grandma's funeral Jack turns to Dan and says, "Dad, when you pass away I want to inherit Guitar Hero so I can play it and then I can give it to my kids." What a wonderful family heirloom.Sam and Charlie have been singing this little tune all day, "Mary had a little lamb, lost her sheep at home."

Charlie loves to ask us all this: 'member on Elf? sumanutcracker? (son-of-an-nutcracker). After which he laughs and laughs. (They all love Elf)

Charlie calls it a "louder" rather than a "ladder". He also calls his cousin Alex "Owlex".

A few months ago Jack asked me: who are those guys called who say ottergyle?me: I'm not sure who you mean.Jack: You know, the ones who play the pipe cleaner?me: oh - Scottish people, who play the bagpipes and wear argyle?

Sam: Today can we go to Little Tweezers for some pizza?

Sam's eating an apple slice, except for the skin.
Me: you know that skin's good for you, right?
Sam: yeah, it helps you grow skin.